Undergarment



July 11, 1944. l. L. LES AVOY' I UNDERGARMENT 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 23, 1943 INVENTOR l. LAWRENCE LESAVOY ATTORNEY July 11, 19 44. LESAVOY Q 2,353,342

. UNDERGARMENT Filed Jan. 23, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR l. LAWRENCE LES AVOY ATTO R N EY Patented July 11, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE UNDERGARMENT Isadore Lawrence Lesavoy, Allentown, Pa.

Application January 23, 1943, Serial No. 473,282

4 Claims.

This invention relates to undergarments, and particularly to underwear combining shirt portions with leg or crotch portions.

The two most commonly used types of underwear are the form embodying separate shirt and shorts or leg portions, and the so-called combination type wherein shirt and leg portions are of one piece. In both of these forms there is frequently considerable wastage of material, there being more material than needed for adequate covering and protection. It is within the contemplation of my invention to overcome this shortcoming by economically combining a shirt and crotch portion in an underwear garment so as to employ a minimum of material and which will nevertheless provide adequate covering. Such an improved garment will not only prove useful in ordinary times, but will also be of value during emergency war periods when there is a dearth of material.

And in the above-mentioned aspect of my invention, it is an object to provide a knitted garment devoid of specially inserted elastic materials, yet capable of oifering comfort and protection with a minimum of material.

It is a further object of my invention to enable a garment of the above-described category to provide gentle and effective athletic support for a male wearer, so that the parts of the wearer are supported in an uncramped and normal position.

Another object of this invention is to provide adjustable means in a garment of the abovedescribed class, so that the crotch portion can always be made to be in secure supporting contact with dilferently proportioned wearers, without any discomfiture.

It is within the further contemplation of my invention to enable the crotch portion, in one form thereof, to contain absorbent or moistureproof means to prevent the soiling of the wearers outergarment.

And it is also an object to enable the garment of my invention to be readily applied to a wearer, and to be capable of adjustment so as to enable the wearer to comfortably and conveniently perform his natural functions.

Other objects, features and advantages will appear from the drawings and the description hereinafter given.

Referring to the drawings,

Figure l is a perspective view showing the undergarment of my invention in relation to a wearer.

Figure 2 is a front view of the garment of Figure 1 with a fragmentary portion of the Douch removed and with the supplementary support'in its detached condition.

Figure .3 is a fragmentary side view of the gar ment of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a section of the garment of Figure 1 taken substantially along line 44 thereof.

Figure 5 is a front view of a modified form of my invention showing the supplementary support containing a protecting member.

Figure 6 is a section of Figure 5 taken along line a s thereof.

Figure 7 is front View of another modification of the garment of my invention having a short tail portion separate from'the pouch portion, and

Figure 8 is a fragmentary sideview of the structure of Figure 7 shown in flattened condition.

In the preferred form of my invention as adapted for male wearers, the garment consists of a shirt portion l0 and two coacting leg or crotch portions, the front pouch ll integral with and extending downwardly from the front medial part of the shirt portion, and the supplementary support l2 integral with and'extending downwardly in the form of a tail from the rear medial part of the shirt portion.

The said pouch portion H is convexly curved or cupped at the forward portion 13, and extends rearwardly and upwardly to form the pocket It. The said supplementary support I2 is preferably slightly cupped, particularly at its lower and forward portions I5 and [6 respectively, so as to substantially conform to the pouch portion H and be in partial embracing engagement therewith. In its assembled or operative position, the said support l2 extends around the outer surface of the pouch portion ll, continuing upwardly to the fasteners ll. 7 l

In the form illustrated, the said fasteners I! are buttons slidably and frictionally mounted over the tapes 3' which are suitably attached to the garment at 19. Each of said buttons can be slidably moved along its supporting tape, so that its distance from the point of attachment 19 can be varied. By adjustably manipulating the but tons, and inserting them in any selected buttonholes 20 On the free terminal of support l2,'the position of the support can be adjustably varied in accordance with the proportionof the wearer.

The shirt portion I0 is also provided with adjusting means, preferably at the shoulder portions 2|. These shoulder portions, in the form shown, each consist of overlapped sections 22 and 23, the buttons 24 being adapted for insertion in any of the buttonholes 25. In this manner the shirt portion can be lengthened or shortened, so that the position of the pouch II can be adjustably varied to suit the wearer. It is preferred that the proportions of armholes 26 be free end 2? at the upper terminal of the cup Hi.

This constitutes a decided improvement over the conventional athletic supporter which generally holds the males parts firmly confined and permits nofreedom of movement; and it is also decidedly superior to conventional undergarments which provide no support whatsoever.

It is to be particularly noted that the supple mentary support I 2, being adjustable, is arranged to conform to the position of the pouch member H as adjusted for comfort. The said sup port 12 hence does not in any way adversely affect the comfort of the wearer; on the contrary, it provides additional support without producing any crowding or distress. The support !2 also serves as a crotch member which, in combination' with the shirt portion N], forms the openings 28 for the legs of the wearer (Fig. 4).

In the preferred structure of this garment,.the material is made of ribbed knitwork, giving sufficient resiliency for comfort, without using independent elastic means. This form of material permits of the structure in each of the regions of the leg openings 28, as illustrated in Figure 4. The material at these regions is stretched laterally, with respect to the ribs 8, as the seams 29 are being applied, thereby'producing leg openings 28 larger than would otherwise be possible. This feature enables the supplementary support 12 to be readily drawn through the crotch of the wearer and fastened in place without danger of binding.

It will further be observed that the tapes l8 are sewed into' place on a bias. For a ribbed structure, it has been found that this arrangement is particularly suited to enable the knitted fabric, to withstand the strain due to the pull exerted on the tapes l8 by the support l2.

It is understood that although buttons I1 and 24 are shown as the preferred fastening means, other adjustable fasteners, such as snaps and hooks, may be employed within the scope of this invention. I

In the modification shown in Figures 5 and 6 the supplementary support We has the lateral portions 30 thereof folded inwardly to form marinal recesses or pockets 3!. or water-proof sheet member 32 is disposed lon- An absorbent pad gitudinally of the support lZa in the region of the crotch, the lateral portions of the member 32 being within the marginal recesses 3! and retained in place thereby. The said support 120., containing said member 32, thus serves the additional purpose of preventing the soiling of the wearers outer-garment. If worn by a female. the pouch portion H can be dispensed with; and. if worn by a male, the said pouch portion will cooperate with the support I20. to serve their combined purposes.

In the modification of Figures 7 and 8, the body portion lila has extending downwardly from the bottom medial portion thereof the pouch portion 1 la substantially like pouch portion I i above described. The tail portion I21), however, is much shorter than member 12 above referred to, and while not adapted to underlie pouch portion Ila, nevertheless serves the purpose of providing coverage for the rear of the wearer. As in the form above described, the shoulder strap Zla cooperates with pouch Ha for providing a suitable and gentle support for the wearer.

It is understood that other additional forms and adaptations of my invention, in addition to those hereinabove set forth, can be employed within the scope of the appended claims,

What I claim is:

' l. A garment of ribbed knitted material containing a shirt portion and two coasting crotch portions comprising a pouch portion extending downwardly from the forward part of the shirt portion and curled rearwardly to form a pocket open at the top, and a supplementary support extending downwardly from the back part of the shirt portion and adapted for overlapping engagement with said pouch portion; and fastening means associated with the front of said shirt portion and the free end of said support, the position of the fastening means being such that when the crotch portions are in their operative positions the lowermost portion of the support will be in underlying supporting engagement with the lowermost part of the pouch portion and leg openings will be formed by said support and the'lower parts of the shirt portion; the ribs of the material extending substantially longitudinally of the garment; the material in the re gion of said leg openings being spread laterally of the ribs, whereby the leg openings are of em lar od proportions; and seamed means holding the said spread portions of the material in their expanded condition.

2. A garment containing a shirt portion. and two coacting crotch portions comprising a pouch portion extending downwardly from the forward part of the shirt portion and curled rearwardly to form a pocket open at the top, and a supplementary support extending downwardly from the back part of the shirt portion and adapted'for overlapping engagement with said pouch portion; and fastening means associated with the front of said shirt portion and the free end of said support, comprising at least one tape attached to the shirt front, a button slidably and frictionally supported by said tape, and a buttonhole on said support adapted to operatively receive the button, the button being adjustably movable alon the tape, whereby the support can be adjusted with its lowermost portion in underlying supporting engagement with the lowermost part of the pouch portion when the crotch portions are in their operative positions.

3. Ina garment of the class described, a shirt portion, a crotch member extending downwardly from one side of the shirt portion and adapted for attachment to the opposite side thereof, the intermediate portion of said member being adapted. for positioning in the crotch of the wearer, fastening means for detachably securing the said member to the said opposite side of the shirt portion, said crotch member having portions folded inwardly at the lateral edges there,- of t form longitudinal marginal recesses, and a protecting member disposed against said crotch member and extending laterally within said recesses and retained in place by the Walls thereof.

4. A garment containing a shirt portion and two coacting crotch portions comprising a pouch portion extending downwardly from the forward part of the shirt portion and curled rearwardly to form a pocket open at the top, and a supplementary support extending downwardly from the back part of the shirt portion and adapted for 10 overlapping engagement with said pouch portion; fastening means for detachably securing the said support to the front of the shirt por-- tion; said support being folded inwardly at the lateral edges thereof to form longitudinal marginal recesses, and a protecting member disposed against said support and extending laterally within said recesses and retained in place by the walls thereof.

I. LAWRENCE LESAVOY. 

